Assessment of some inflammatory cytokines and immunologic factors in dairy cows with subclinical ketosis

Altered cytokine profile and weakened immunity along with clinical or subclinical ketosis (SCK) are among the remarkable challenges around parturition. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare some inflammatory cytokines and immunologic factors between two groups of healthy and SCK cows. Serum specimens were collected from 30 clinically healthy dairy cows on the early dry period (EDP), one week before expected calving (-1w), and one week postpartum (+1W). The animals were divided into the two groups of healthy (N = 20) and SCK (N = 10) based on serum β-hydroxybutyrate cut-off of 1.2 mmol/L on +1W. The concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and haptoglobin (Hp) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were statistically analyzed by mixed analysis of variance and independent samples t-test using the SPSS software. The findings demonstrated that the overall levels of IL-4 (p = 0.033), IL-10 (p = 0.049), TNF-α (p = 0.028), and Hp (p = 0.018) were significantly higher in the SCK group than the control group. Furthermore, the interaction of time × SCK had a significant influence on IL-4 (p = 0.028) and Hp (p = 0.022) levels. It was revealed that IL-4 (p = 0.008), IL-10 (p = 0.009), TNF-α (p = 0.01), and Hp (p = 0.002) were all significantly higher in the SCK group than the control group on +1W. In conclusion, SCK in dairy cattle might have a relationship with immunologic and inflammatory changes around calving.